Are all versions of the Galaxy S4 equivalent?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I can't get the editions and the specs straight. I'm on T-Mobile. Is there a version of the Galaxy S4 that is superior to the others?

I'm looking for T-Mobile 4G compatibility and the best worldwide compatibility as well.

 

[poofyhairguy]

There are basically 2 S4's hardware-wise: Qualcomm one and Exynos one. You don't want the Exynos one it is flawed.

Almost all the Qualcomm ones are the same, the difference being radios (like in Verizon's) or locked bootloaders (like in Verizon's or AT&Ts).

Then you get to pick: Touchwiz or Google Edition

If you want AOSP, get the Google edition. If you want Touchwiz, get the T-Mobile S4 and unlock it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqQlo5ZCA68

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

There are basically 2 S4's hardware-wise: Qualcomm one and Exynos one. You don't want the Exynos one it is flawed.

Almost all the Qualcomm ones are the same, the difference being radios (like in Verizon's) or locked bootloaders (like in Verizon's or AT&Ts).

Then you get to pick: Touchwiz or Google Edition

If you want AOSP, get the Google edition. If you want Touchwiz, get the T-Mobile S4 and unlock it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqQlo5ZCA68

Gotcha. Didn't know about the Exynos issue. I'm basically debating between three versions:

AT&T
T-Mobile
Google

I like AOSP, but I assume that all three can be made to use AOSP, right? What's the point of getting a Google one when I can just install AOSP on any S4 anyway, besides convenience and "official" support?

Is the Google one somehow faster or has different hardware?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

So I'm I'm parsing this right...

Don't get (Exynos Octa-core)

I9502
I9500

Get (Qualcomm Snapdragon 600) - these all have the same radios and hardware, right?

I337: AT&T
M919: T-Mobile
I9505ZWG: S4 Google Edition

 

[MrTransistorm]

What's the point of getting a Google one when I can just install AOSP on any S4 anyway, besides convenience and "official" support?

Convenience and "official" support are why I got an S4 GPe. Both 4.3 and the subsequent update were available via OTA within a few weeks after the official releases. Not as fast as real Nexus updates, but close enough.

There is a bit of a problem with 4.3 on the GPe: Many apps lost the ability to write to the microSD card. There has been a lot of finger pointing, and I don't think it has been officially fixed. I think there is a fix posted on XDA, but I haven't tried it. The issue hasn't bothered me since the only app I use to write to the SD card (ES File Explorer) still works fine. Also MTP still works correctly with the SD card.

Is the Google one somehow faster or has different hardware?

The hardware is the same. It's only faster due to less bloat. Mine flies, and the battery life has been pretty good. The only time I experienced lag was while syncing 40 GB worth of music files to the microSD card via MTP.

It does however have more available storage space due to a different partition scheme. This also means that Touchwiz-based ROMs may not fit without repartitioning (at least that's what I've read). If you plan to be trying Touchwiz ROMs, you'd be better off with a T-mobile/AT&T model.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The AT&T S4 is out. Its locked it sucks. Treat it like Exynos.

Of the other two, it comes down to formatting like the post above me says.

A Google S4 has more app space, but can never run touchwiz. A T Mobile S4 can run either but has less app space.

Personally I have the T Mobile formatting and I hate it. I am rooted to foldermount large games to my SD card to compensate for less app space. I would get the Google One if I had a do-over. I do fine with 16GB Nexus 7.

But if you MAYBE want a Touchwiz ROM one day get T Mobile (or maybe some other unlocked 32gb model).

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

The AT&T S4 is out. Its locked it sucks. Treat it like Exynos.

Of the other two, it comes down to formatting like the post above me says.

A Google S4 has more app space, but can never run touchwiz. A T Mobile S4 can run either but has less app space.

Personally I have the T Mobile formatting and I hate it. I am rooted to foldermount large games to my SD card to compensate for less app space. I would get the Google One if I had a do-over. I do fine with 16GB Nexus 7.

But if you MAYBE want a Touchwiz ROM one day get T Mobile (or maybe some other unlocked 32gb model).

Ah damn, thanks for the heads up. I didn't know that AT&T is out. I thought that there were always ways to unlock it. Unfortunately the ATT versions are the predominant ones by far that people are selling used. The Google Edition one is nonexistent, and if it does exist, has a huge price premium over a TMobile one.

I don't want Touchwiz. Been there, done that. And with 32GB I think I can live with having some smaller primary driver space.

 

[gmaster456]

I'd rather have the Google edition for official updates, less bloat meaning better perceived performance and the ability to run virgin android.

 

[s44]

If you're in the "screw it, I'm flashing anyway" camp, then some AT&T devices are fine. MDB and MDL firmwares allow the Loki exploit that, for your purposes, functions just like a fully unlocked bootloader.

Just avoid MF3 or anything later.

 

[poofyhairguy]

If you're in the "screw it, I'm flashing anyway" camp, then some AT&T devices are fine. MDB and MDL firmwares allow the Loki exploit that, for your purposes, functions just like a fully unlocked bootloader.

Just avoid MF3 or anything later.

Yeah exactly. That is what I have, a lokied AT&T S4. But you have to be really picky because the options for MF3 suck. All T-Mobiles are unlocked.

 

[Dari]

Haha, it was only a year ago when people here were singing the praises of Exynos, as if it was some magical SoC when it was nothing more than ARM's reference SoC that Samsung basically rebranded. Now it's treated with disdain and in the same category as MediaTek...

 

[poofyhairguy]

The disdain isn't because they are generic, it is because they screwed up big little this gen.

 

[Dari]

The disdain isn't because they are generic, it is because they screwed up big little this gen.

How is that even possible when it's a reference Soc? Did Samsung add features that screwed up other parts of the reference?

 

[poofyhairguy]

How is that even possible when it's a reference Soc? Did Samsung add features that screwed up other parts of the reference?

ARM left a few things up to them (not everything is paint by number) and Samsung screwed up the cache coherent interconnect.